battery life expectancy by climate area

[shogun]

That is an interesting page.
http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/lifemap.jpg
Car battery buying strategy for use in Alaska, for example, is different than in the hotter climates found in South Texas. In extremely cold climates, higher CCA (Cold Cranking Amp) ratings are more important. In a hot climate, higher RC (Reserve Capacity) or AH (Ampere Hour) ratings are more important than CCA; however, these ratings should meet or exceed your vehicle's OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) requirements. Do NOT buy a new battery until you need it because it will sulfate sitting in storage and you will lose capacity.
More details about battery FAQ
http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/carfaq7.htm#index

[uscharalph]

That is an interesting page.
http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/lifemap.jpg
Car battery buying strategy for use in Alaska, for example, is different than in the hotter climates found in South Texas. In extremely cold climates, higher CCA (Cold Cranking Amp) ratings are more important. In a hot climate, higher RC (Reserve Capacity) or AH (Ampere Hour) ratings are more important than CCA; however, these ratings should meet or exceed your vehicle's OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) requirements. Do NOT buy a new battery until you need it because it will sulfate sitting in storage and you will lose capacity.
More details about battery FAQ
http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/carfaq7.htm#index
Thank you one more time, Shogun. I was asking for something along these lines last month and here it is!

[SRR2]

Bill Darden's site has really taken off. I remember having a discussion with him about some battery esoterica sometime around '96/'97 when it was a single page with some basic application information. He's done a fantastic job with it since then. If you follow Shogun's link, find your way back to the top page and bookmark it as the authoritative resource on batteries. Check out the "Who Makes What" page while you're at it. Interesting, and potentially money-saving.

[Zeuk in Oz]

Interesting map.
Here in Oz where temperatures are generally warmer rather than cooler, battery life also depends very much on where the battery is in the car.
Batteries in the engine bay do not last anywhere near as long as batteries in boots (trunks) or under seats etc (according to my friendly auto sparkie) .